Somchai Wongsawat

Ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra addressed tens of thousands of supporters by video from exile, warning against efforts to "interfere" in democracy as lawmakers prepared to select yet another new prime minister amid political crisis. For most of the day, the crowd, estimated by police at 30,000 to 40,000, cheered and danced as speaker after speaker accused the army of using its influence to force Thaksin's political allies from power despite their election victory a year ago. They criticized efforts by the opposition Democrat Party to form a new government as early as Monday.

Ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra addressed tens of thousands of supporters by video from exile, warning against efforts to "interfere" in democracy as lawmakers prepared to select yet another new prime minister amid political crisis. For most of the day, the crowd, estimated by police at 30,000 to 40,000, cheered and danced as speaker after speaker accused the army of using its influence to force Thaksin's political allies from power despite their election victory a year ago. They criticized efforts by the opposition Democrat Party to form a new government as early as Monday.

Lawmakers have elected the brother-in-law of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the new prime minister of Thailand. Parliament voted 298 to 163 today in favor of Somchai Wongsawat, 61, who was education minister and is married to Thaksin's younger sister. The previous prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, was ousted this month for appearing on a cooking show. The choice of Somchai was unlikely to disperse anti-government protesters who have been camped at the prime minister's official compound since Aug. 26.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was convicted of corruption Tuesday and sentenced to two years in prison, a ruling that may embolden anti-government protesters. Thaksin said the charges, which involve a real estate purchase by his wife, were politically motivated. Prosecutors said they would try to extradite him from Britain. Thaksin, 59, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, remains the nation's most influential politician.

A protest group seeking to unseat Thailand's government was buoyed Thursday by court rulings that ordered insurrection charges dropped against its leaders and called for the authorities to use "soft means" to quell demonstrations. The court actions came after violent clashes Tuesday between police and protesters. Much of the media and professional and academic groups said the government had used unnecessary force.

November 29, 2008 | Charles McDermid, McDermid is a special correspondent.

Bangkok's two main airports were surrounded by riot police early today in the government of Thailand's latest gambit to disperse protesters who have blockaded air traffic and cut the Southeast Asian nation off from the world. Police at the domestic Don Muang airport, overrun by members of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, or the PAD, said early Thursday that "necessary measures" would be taken if protesters did not stand down.

Dashing the hopes of Thais who looked to their monarch to help lead them out of a political crisis, King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday canceled the speech he normally gives on the eve of his birthday. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn said that the monarch, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, was ill. "Yesterday, his majesty the king was eating fine," the princess said. "But today the king suffered from bronchitis." She said that the king was weak but that his condition was not serious.

Violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters left at least two people dead Tuesday and hundreds injured as tear gas, gunshots and Molotov cocktails filled central Bangkok, officials and witnesses said. A crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy movement erupted into a day of rioting at Thailand's besieged government complex. "I came to protest, and then the police used violence against the people. I saw my uncle and aunt hit with tear gas.

Hundreds of protesters seeking to topple Thailand's prime minister seized Bangkok's international airport terminal Tuesday, forcing cancellation of all flights. Members and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy stormed through police lines at Suvarnabhumi Airport and into the fourth-floor departure area, according to reports from Bangkok. They were armed with metal rods, sticks and golf clubs. That forced officials initially to suspend outbound flights.

Thailand's parliament elected an Oxford-educated economist as prime minister today, shifting power from allies of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected, 235 to 198, over Pracha Promnok, the only other candidate in the 437-member National Assembly. Pracha heads the For Thais party, a member of the pro-Thaksin coalition that was forced out of office by court order this month.

November 30, 2008 | Charles McDermid, McDermid is a special correspondent.

An explosion in the Thai prime minister's office compound injured about 45 people, an emergency official said early today. The blast at the Government House, which has been occupied by thousands of anti-government protesters since August, occurred about midnight Saturday during a rally by supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy, officials said.